please wait

I really hate calling a company and having to wait in line to speak to the next representative. It's the worst. I do appreciate the places that give you an approximate wait time. The nice robot lady comes on the phone and says, "We appreciate your business. Please hold, and the next available agent will be right with you. Currently, the wait time is four...ty.. five minutes." You can hear her talking when you read this, can't you?

Finally, when I think it can't get any worse, someone finally picks up the line and asks how they can help you. I begin by telling them I need to make a change to something. They say sure and ask if I can hold for a minute while they look up my information. THEN WHAT WAS THE POINT OF ME GIVING MY INFORMATION IN THE BEGINNING OF MY CALL???? As I proceed to wait... the elevator music that I've been listening to for the past "four.. ty.. five minutes" starts up again.. and then all of a sudden, I hear the line ringing once more. "Thank you for calling, this is Mike, how can I help you?" WTF IS THIS??!?? So I say, "Umm.. I was just talking to someone and she put me on hold.. I don't know.. is there a reason she transferred my call?" He says in his middle eastern accent, "Uhh.. no ma'am. I do not know what you are talking about. My phone just ring, and I pick up. I do not know. Can I get your information please?"

It's just the worst. I hate calling in for support for whatever the reason. It's not customer support at all. It's customer stress!! It's... what can we do to make our customers never call in to complain? I hate it. And when the person is rude to you like you're wasting THEIR time when at least they're getting paid to wait.. it makes me even more upset because the truth is, they can be rude all they want. You're the one needing their help. Ugh. I hate it.

One time, I called in, and some lady told me I needed to be transferred to a different department. This was after I had waited on the line for nearly an hour. I said fine - I had no choice, really. So she transferred me to a help line for deaf people! I was thinking, "Now what did I ever do to this lady?" I had to hang up and call back. I was hoping and praying I'd get her on the line again, but it was a guy the second time around. I was so pissed.

Everyone hates telemarketers, so why do they exist? Really, why? Sometimes, it's kind of scary to get these calls. You never know who it is. There is a slight pause on the line, some static, and then a "Can I speak to the head of the household?" *shivers* Do companies actually make any money from these tactics? Is there really a profit? I propose to make this world a better place by getting rid of this job position completely.

Jerry Seinfeld had an episode when one of these telemarketers called his apartment. He picks up and tells the guy he can take his home number and call him back when he has time. Then he says, "Oh? Why not? You don't want me to call you at home? Well, now you know how I feel." One day, I've been waiting for the day to use this line.